Hibiscus plant named ‘Samoa Wind’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hibiscus  plant named ‘Samoa Wind’, characterized by its upright, somewhat outwardly spreading, uniformly mounded and dense plant habit appropriate for container production; glossy dark green-colored leaves; uniform, freely and early flowering habit; salmon pink-colored flowers; and good postproduction and garden performance.

Botanical designation: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SAMOA WIND’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Hibiscus plant,botanically known as Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘Samoa Wind’.

The new Hibiscus plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Alva, Fla. The objective of the breedingprogram is to create new freely-branching Hibiscus plants with a dense,uniform and compact plant habit appropriate for container production,early and uniform flowering habit, numerous flowers per lateral branch,desirable flower color and good garden performance.

The new Hibiscus plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in Alva, Fla. in September, 2007 of a proprietary selection ofHibiscus rosa-sinensis identified as code number YB-1528, not patented,as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Hibiscusrosa-sinensis identified as code number YB-2336, not patented, as themale, or pollen, parent. The new Hibiscus plant was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progenyof the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environmentin Alva, Fla. on Sep. 2, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hibiscus plant by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Alva, Fla. sinceFebruary, 2009 has shown that the unique features of this new Hibiscusplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperatureand light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Samoa Wind’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Samoa Wind’ as a new and distinct Hibiscusplant:

-   -   1. Upright, somewhat outwardly spreading, uniformly mounded and        dense plant habit appropriate for container production.    -   2. Glossy dark green-colored leaves.    -   3. Uniform, freely and early flowering habit.    -   4. Salmon pink-colored flowers.    -   5. Good postproduction and garden performance.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ from plants of thefemale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more compact than plants of        the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more upright than plants of        the female parent selection.    -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Hibiscus are darker pink in        color than flowers of plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ from plants of the maleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more upright than plants of        the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus and the male parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection        have orange-colored flowers with red-colored centers.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the Hibiscusrosa-sinensis ‘Candy Wind’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,759. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Alva, Fla., plants of the newHibiscus differed from plants of ‘Candy Wind’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus were more upright than plants of        ‘Candy Wind’.    -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus were not as vigorous as plants of        ‘Candy Wind’.    -   3. Plants of the new Hibiscus had darker pink-colored flowers        than plants of ‘Candy Wind’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Hibiscus plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Hibiscus plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view oftypical flowering plants of ‘Samoa Wind’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises a close-up view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Samoa Wind’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the summer in 15-cm containersin a fiberglass-covered greenhouse in Alva, Fla. and under environmentalconditions and cultural practices which closely approximate commercialHibiscus production. During the production of the plants, daytemperatures ranged from 20° C. to 38° C., night temperatures rangedfrom 15° C. to 24° C. and light levels ranged from 3,000 to 4,000foot-candles. Plants were pinched two times and were 23 weeks old whenthe photographs and the description were taken. In the description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Samoa Wind’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hibiscus            rosa-sinensis identified as code number YB-1528, not            patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Hibiscus            rosa-sinensis identified as code number YB-2336, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 10 days at temperatures of 24°            C.        -   Time to develop roots.—About four weeks at temperatures of            24° C.        -   Root description.—Thick, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial, evergreen, upright,            somewhat outwardly spreading, compact, uniformly mounded and            dense; moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with lateral            branches potentially develop at every node; pinching            enhances lateral branch development.        -   Plant height.—About 30 cm.        -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 36 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 20 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 7 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 1.5 cm to 2 cm.        -   Aspect.—Upright to slightly outwardly spreading.        -   Texture.—Immature, smooth; mature, woody and rough.        -   Color, immature.—Close to 147A.        -   Color, mature.—Close to 197C.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, single; numerous; symmetrical.        -   Length.—About 8 cm.        -   Width.—About 5.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse, occasionally with cordate tendencies.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Luster, upper surface.—Glossy.        -   Luster, lower surface.—Somewhat glossy.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Darker than 147A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Closest to N137B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Much darker green than 147A;            venation, much darker green than 147A. Fully expanded            leaves, lower surface: Close to N137A; venation, close to            N137A to N137B.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 3 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Slightly pubescent. Color, upper            surface: Close to 147A. Color, lower surface: Close to            N137B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and flowering habit.—Rounded star-shaped            flowers arranged at terminal leaf axils; uniform and freely            flowering habit with about five to six flowers per terminal;            flowers face mostly upright to outwardly.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Hibiscus flower            naturally during the spring and summer or during periods of            warm weather; plants flower year-round in the greenhouse.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about two to three days on            the plant; flowers persistent.        -   Flower diameter.—About 10 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 5.25 cm.        -   Flower bud.—Resistance to abscission during shipping: Plants            of the new Hibiscus have been observed to resist flower bud            drop when stored in a closed box for five days at 13° C.            Length: About 2.4 cm. Diameter: About 1.3 cm. Shape: Ovoid.            Color: Darker green than 144A.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Corolla consists of five petals that            are fused at base; petals imbricate. Length: About 6 cm.            Width: About 5.6 cm. Shape: Roughly spatulate. Apex:            Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire; slightly undulate.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous; satiny; veins prominent on the            lower surface. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to            47D. When opening, lower surface: Closest to 48B to 48C.            Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 47D; color does not            fade with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Between            48C and 49A; color does not fade with development.        -   Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals fused into a tubular            star-shaped calyx. Length: About 2.3 cm. Width: About 1 cm.            Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Sharply acute. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; waxy. Texture,            lower surface: Slightly pubescent. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 144A to more green than 144A.        -   Bracts.—Appearance: About six to seven fused at base.            Length: About 1.5 cm. Width: About 5 mm. Shape: Lanceolate.            Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth,            glabrous. Texture, lower surface: Sparsely pubescent. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: More green than 147A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.6 cm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm.            Aspect: Upright. Strength: Strong, flexible. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Color: More green than 146A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Numerous,            about 80 per flower. Filament length: About 2 mm. Filament            color: Close to 47A to 47B. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther            length: About 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 9A. Amount of            pollen: Moderate to scarce. Pollen color: Close to 14A.            Gynoecium: Pistil number: One per flower. Pistil length:            About 5 cm. Style length: About 4.4 cm. Style texture:            Smooth, glabrous; waxy. Style color: Towards the apex, close            to 47C; towards the base, close to 45A. Stigma appearance:            Five-parted, rounded. Stigma color: Close to 45A. Ovary            color: Close to 157A.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production has not been            observed on plants of the new Hibiscus.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have been observed to    have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and    temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 38° C.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Hibiscus grown under    Florida production conditions have not been shown to be susceptible    to pathogens common to Hibiscus such as Pseudomonas, Pythium and    Phytophthora. Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been observed to    be resistant to pests and other pathogens.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hibiscus plant named ‘Samoa Wind’as illustrated and described.